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Eat a locally grown or meatless meal

Why Act?

Our supermarkets are filled with food items that are industrially produced using dangerous chemicals and then trucked or flown from hundreds or thousands of miles away. Most restaurants get their food the same way. This way of eating is detrimental to the environment, our health, and the sustainability of our food supply. Eating local food in season means more fresh fruit and vegetables, meat raised without artificial drugs, better tasting food, and supporting the local economy.

Action Steps

1. Learn what locally grown foods are in season and available.
   
   
2. Determine which supermarkets carry locally produced food.
   Find out the locations and times for local farmers’ markets.
   
   
3. Plan two meals per week featuring seasonal local, organic food and/or meatless recipes.
   
   
4. Order meatless or local items when eating in restaurants.

Materials

Cookbooks featuring seasonal menus.
Web access for research about local foods and recipes, farmers’ markets, and local restaurants.

Time

A few minutes to an hour or so per week for menu planning.
Time for preparing fresh, locally grown foods.

Resources

100 Mile Diet

Local Food Challenge (Mount Vernon Sierra Club Chapter)

True Cost of Food

Vegetarian Resource Group

Learn More

Farm and Food Policy Project

Food, Carbon & The Commons

Worldwatch Institute: Food